Seller

Seiko bought the small, high end Swiss watch company called Jean Lassale, founded in 1976 and specializing in ultra thin watches of about 3mm, with the world’s thinnest mechanical movements of only 1.2mm thick. However, Seiko did not acquire the rights to the original Lassale mechanical movements. Those ended up with the company who made the movements for Lassale, who now licensed them instead to Piaget.

Seiko fitted Jean Lassale’s with their own quartz movements already developed in 1977-1979 for their Credor line .

They were priced at about double the regular Seiko line at $375-$595, and carried a large profit margin for the company. Seiko would produce this new line entirely in Japan.

They directed their designers to emulate the original Jean Lassale styles, and the line was launched, using the Seiko Quartz movements already developed in 1977-1979 for their successful Credor luxury line sold in Japan. With most cases measuring only 3-4mm (my one is approx 4mm in depth)

Notable among theLassales, is a rare model sought after by collectors, the limited edition“Centennial”model, signed by the company President and founder’s grandson, Kentaro Hattori.

It was given to Seiko Dealers to commemorate Seiko’s 100 year anniversary, and was not available to the general public. It contained what many would say was Lassale’s best quartz movement, the 8-jewel Cal. 9300A, adjusted for temperature and here it is….. :wink: